Abstract: Stretch-wrap forming of titanium parts or the like by resistance heating the part and a steel forming element which is cast into a fused silica die insert. Heating is accomplished by an electrical circuit in which both the part and the element are connected in parallel. The part is stretch wrapped over the element while a low voltage, high amperage current is allowed to flow through both the part and the element.

Abstract: A control system for suppression of shock-induced flow separation caused by the interaction of turbulent boundary layer air and a strong normal shock in the air inlet of a supersonic aircraft by application of continuous bleeding upstream and across the shock boundary layer interaction region of the inlet through a porous cover which leads to a row of plenums from whence the bleed air is exhausted to atmosphere, through a controlled incrementally operated door. The control system can control interactions with normal shock strength approaching Mach=2 in strength.

Abstract: A regulated three phase power supply with a wye connected, isolated neutral transformer having a full wave three phase bridge connected between the phase windings and the common point. A clipper transistor is connected across the bridge so that each phase current flows through the transistor. A drive circuit for the clipper transistor is isolated from ground. Reducing the drive to the clipper transistor increases its impedance and clips the voltage wave across the transformer primary. An output circuit is connected with the transformer. A three phase feedbck circuit is connected from either the output circuit or the wye connected circuit to the clipper transistor and is responsive to the instantaneous phase voltages to increase the transistor impedance, clipping the input voltage, when the sensed condition is excessive.Current regulation is provided by increasing the drive to the transistor as the current through it increases.

Abstract: A television camera is trained on a target to produce a video image thereof. The video signals are converted to unipolar form such that black to white and white to black contrast produces the same polarity video signals and these signals appropriately filtered so that only the desired target signals remain. A tracking gate is generated which automatically accommodates to the size of the selected target and forms an optical window which surrounds the target on a viewing screen. In an acquisition mode of operation, the operator brings the target so that it lies within the window at which time he initiates a "track" mode of operation whereupon error signals are generated as the target moves out of the window, these error signals being utilized in a servo system to slew the camera such as to maintain "lock-on".

Abstract: The method of purging entrained air or vapor from fuel stored in two or more tanks in an aircraft, and more particularly in multi-engine aircraft during crossfeed fuel delivery when the aircraft is climbing to altitude, which method consists of reversing the fuel booster pump, or pumps, in the temporarily unused tank, or tanks, while all fuel is withdrawn from one tank to supply the engines, whereby the fuel agitation produced by the reversed pump or pumps effectively frees the entrained air or vapor from the fuel to escape to atmosphere through the fuel tank vent system.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is presented for digitally implementing a class of transforms for the purpose of processing data in real time based on decomposing data vectors into sets of coefficients associated with matrices of transformations in the class with each transform in the class being made up of an ordered cascade of elementary transformations. Each state of the cascade is composed of the product of a weighting transformation (diagonal weighting matrix) and a generating transformation (sparse matrix composed of +1, -1, and zero elements). The inverse generating transform is obtained as the adjoint of the generating transform (transpose of the generating matrix).The invention is implemented by cascading one or more modules composed of adder/subtractors, delays, and multipliers with all modules having the same structure and the number of modules at any stage being twice the number in the preceding stage.

Abstract: A control airfoil such as a wing flap is provided adjacent its leading edge with a plurality of parallel blowing slots extending spanwise of the flap and leading from a plenum in the interior of the flap, the plenum being supplied with high pressure air and the slots being so arranged in airtight relationship with the trailing edge of the wing that the slots are serially uncovered in a cascade arrangement, as the flap is deflected continuously downward from its neutral position, to blow a cascade of high pressure air rearwardly in successively small angle increments over the upper surface of the flap to continuously re-energize the boundary layer air thereon and thereby increase the coefficient of lift during landing of the aircraft by permitting extreme flap angles to be used.

Abstract: A Luneberg lens with a polarization-sensitive spherical "leaky" reflector cap having conductive strips aligned at a 45.degree. angle to the linear polarization of the incident wave. The ratio of strip width to strip spacing is preferably chosen to reflect back a cross-polarized component about -10 db below the reflected self-polarized component. The strip width is small as compared to the focal spot diameter of the lens for any given incident wave direction and also small as compared to the wavelength of the incident wave. The lens and reflector can be used in small drone aircraft to simulate the radar cross section of a larger body such as an aircraft whose radar cross section causes reflected polarization components not present in the incident field. The full specification must be consulted for an understanding of the invention.

Abstract: A new class of high-power lasers capable of high efficiencies in the visible and shorter wave lengths is taught, employing an excitation energy transfer mechanism from a pumped noble donor gas, such as Argon, to an acceptor lasing gas, preferably Nitrogen. In particular, such an Argon/Nitrogen laser exhibits a very useful, unique output wave length at 3577A, this being derived from a mixture of Argon, predominantly, with a minor percentage of Nitrogen, excited by a relativistic electron beam of relatively high current density. Such gas lasers with a noble gas as donor offer great promise, using high electrical conversion. efficiency of the noble donor gas with a non-radiative energy transfer to the lasing gas.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reducing the friction in a ball-bearing pivot axis assembly. Within the bearing assembly, the balls are floated in a fluid lubricant and, especially in fully-floated units, the weight of the balls is an overriding consideration in the generation of sliding frictional torques. In the present invention these gravitational effects are counteracted by matching as nearly as possible the ball density and the flotation fluid density, the floated weight decrease serving to bring down the friction proportionally with an ultimate theoretical complete reduction of frictional uncertainty from that of known systems.

Abstract: Control information for guiding of vehicles such as a missile, projectile or manned vehicle, is carried on an optical beam directed at such vehicle from a ground station. Information for roll stabilization of such vehicle is carried in such beam in the form of a polarized light wave. A polarizing beam splitter which is aligned with the vertical axis of the vehicle and carried thereon receives the beam and provides light outputs from one face thereof which is in accordance with the cosine squared of the angle between the vertical axis of the vehicle (or any other predetermined reference angle thereof) and the polarization angle of the light beam, and from an orthogonal face thereof which is in accordance with the sine squared of this same angle. The light emitted from each of the beam splitter surfaces is transduced to electrical form by means of light detectors and these electrical signals appropriately amplified for use in controlling a roll stabilization system.

Abstract: A laser beam is passed between a pair of electrodes, the switching of the beam being accomplished by generating an arc between the electrodes whereby metal vapor is ablated therefrom. The metal vapor acts to either refract or totally block the beam, in either case cutting off the laser output.

Abstract: A plurality of thermionic filaments are arranged in side-by-side relationship. A spreader electrode which may be in the form of a flat plate is placed on one side of the filaments, while an anode is placed on the other side of the filaments, with a grid being interposed between the filaments and the anode. The various aforementioned elements are given dimensions and positioned relative to each other and the voltages thereon adjusted so as to shape the trajectory of the electrons to provide a uniform distribution of electrons at the anode with a minimum dissipation of energy in the grid and spreader electrodes.

Abstract: A single channel transmission and recording system for a scanner having a multi-channel array of dectors having a single delta modulator in the transmission unit and a single delta demodulator in the receiving unit. A plurality of analog signals, such as video signals sensed by infrared detectors, are each fed to an associated channel having an associated switch circuit. A suitable switch logic generator samples the switches in successive ascending order and subsequently in successive descending order. The sampled analog signals of each channel are fed to a signal delta modulator which converts them to a serial train of digital signals. A synchronizing code generator generates a synchronizing code word which is transmitted with the serial train of digital signals to a receiving station where the serial train of digital signals is reconverted to an analog signal similar to the sampled analog signals for display on a suitable device such as a cathode ray tube.

Abstract: Integrated circuit chips are mounted in electronic assemblies with the chip terminal pads "up" or on the opposite side of the chip from the substrate of the circuit board. The lower chip surface is bonded either directly to the heat-conducting substrate or through an intermediate pedestal of a good heat-conducting volume of metal. Beam leads from the integrated circuit terminals are bonded to relatively large heat-conductive posts acting as spacers, if necessary, between the beam leads and the circuitry pattern.

Abstract: A single electrooptic crystalline material, having a first pair of electrodes affixed thereto along opposite faces, and a second set of electrodes affixed to alternate opposite faces, is disposed within a laser cavity. The orientation of the crystal and selection of electrode faces is such that the application of two different electric fields can achieve simultaneous mode-locking of the laser with output coupling of the optical pulses.

Abstract: Pressure relief louvers for preventing damage to a combat aircraft in the event of an explosion resulting from an accumulation of gun gases in the gun bay. The pressure relief louvers are flush mounted relative to the aircraft outside surface and are hinged along their lower edges longitudinally of the aircraft, in the gun bay door. They are normally held closed by magnetic action, opening only as the result of a high pressure buildup within the gun bay. The normal upward component of in-flight air flow over the gun bay doors closes the louvers after the internal pressure subsides.